Tony Zych

Anthony Aaron Zych

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 190 lb.
• School University of Louisville
• High School St. Rita of Cascia High School
• Debut September 4, 2015
• Final Game August 19, 2017
• Born August 7, 1990 in Hazelcrest, IL USA

BR page

Biographical information

When pitcher Tony Zych made his major league debut in 2015, he displaced Dutch Zwilling as the last player in alphabetical order among all of those who have ever played major league baseball; Zwilling had held the distinction since 1910.

Amateur Career

Zych was 7-2 with a 2.63 ERA as a senior in high school, while hitting .426 with 8 home runs. He was selected by the Chicago Cubs out of high school in the 46th round of the 2008 amateur draft. He attended the University of Louisville instead and was 6-2 with two saves and a 3.25 ERA as a freshman. Louisville Slugger named him a Freshman All-American. He pitched for the US college national team but they did not play in a major tournament; their biggest events were a tour of Japan against the Japanese college stars and the World Baseball Challenge in Canada. Zych was 0-1 with a 2.93 ERA for the summer, 9th on the 12-man staff in ERA ahead of Trevor Bauer and Bryce Brentz. He faded to 5-2, 5.03 as a sophomore for Louisville.

Tony excelled for the Bourne Braves in the summer of 2010. He had a 0.89 ERA, 29 strikeouts in 20 1/3 IP and led the Cape Cod League with 12 saves, two ahead of runner-up Marcus Stroman. He was hitting 97 mph on the radar gun. He was named the Cape Cod League's Outstanding Relief Pitcher and Outstanding Pro Prospect. He went 0-2 with 13 saves and a 3.00 ERA for Louisville in 2011. He tied Kevin Vance for the Big East Conference save lead but was only third-team All-Conference.

Minors

He was again drafted by the Cubs, this time in the fourth round of the 2011 amateur draft. Tim Adkins was the scout. Zych signed and made his pro debut that summer with the AZL Cubs, appearing in two games before being promoted to the Boise Hawks, for whom he also made two appearances. He allowed two runs (one earned) in four innings overall that summer. In 2012, he pitched for the Daytona Cubs (3-3, 6 Sv, 3.19) and Tennessee Smokies (2-1, 4.38), with 64 strikeouts in 61 1/3 IP for the year. He made 47 pitching appearances, third in the Cubs chain behind Brian Schlitter and Frank Batista. He began 2013 back with Tennessee.

Majors

Tony made his big league debut with the Seattle Mariners on September 4, 2015, giving up two runs in two innings of relief against the Oakland Athletics.

He recorded his first career save under stressful circumstances on May 15, 2017. He took over for struggling closer Edwin Diaz after the young fireballer had issued four walks in a span of five batters against the Oakland Athletics, reducing Seattle's lead to 6-4 with one out. Zych forced Khris Davis to ground out, but this scoerd another run. He then walked Yonder Alonso intentionally to load the bases again, but struck out Adam Rosales with a full count to end the game.

Sources

• 2013 Cubs Media Guide
• UL bio
• USA Baseball
• Cape Cod League

Related Sites

• Tony Zych on mlb.com
• BR Minors page